No monitor at Metcalf Energy plant breeds distrust for San Jose
Dear Editor,Â
I could not agree more that it is long past due for action concerning the installation of the air quality monitoring station that was promised to South County residents by the City of San Jose when the Metcalf Energy Center was approved and installed.
The up wind (northerly flow) monitoring station was installed shortly after the plant was operational, and San Jose is to be commended for that, but the northerly flow is not the prevailing wind flow. The prevailing winds blow in a southerly direction from the Metcalf Energy Center directly over Morgan Hill and Gilroy and then it is trapped in our valley. This is where the air quality monitoring station is needed the most; where the air quality is the worst.
Calpine did its part in purchasing the equipment for the City of San Jose to install. Now, over two-and-a-half years later, San Jose wants to renege on their promise and skirt their responsibility by refusing to install the equipment at all? This is simply NOT acceptable!
Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, sent San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed a letter on Jan. 23, 2007 offering his assistance in getting the monitoring equipment installed, and asking for an expedited response regarding the current status of the installation project. I personally have not seen a response from Mayor Reed to Assemblyman Laird’s request.
This has now become a matter of trust, integrity, and credibility for the City of San Jose. The residents of South County reluctantly approved of the Metcalf Energy Center based on the promises made by the City of San Jose. We trusted that San Jose would fulfill its promise, and not postpone the installation time and time again. We have been lied to and that trust and credibility is gone.
And now they want us to believe what they are saying about Coyote Valley? I think not.
I have contacted Congressman Jerry McNerney’s office and requested his assistance in getting this very important air quality monitoring station installed. I will let you know with updates in the future.
You may contact me at (408) 782-1017 or e-mail me at sw****@****ic.com.Â
Swanee edwards, Morgan Hill
Trails enhance community
Dear Editor,
Obesity is a serious health problem in America, not just with adults but now with children. Heart disease is the number one killer, with nearly 1 million deaths annually. Our fast-paced, fast-food and sedentary computer-centered lifestyle is contributing to our health problems. I am not immune to this lifestyle either. It is affecting all of us. So when the city proposed trails in the Jackson Oaks area it was a sincere effort to address national and community health needs.
It was also an effort to address a continued and welcomed change in America. We are more active than ever before. Hiking and other similar physical recreation activities continue to grow and will continue to grow exponentially as many realize their benefits. It is known that one’s physical well-being is a contributing factor to life’s success. Healthier people are generally happier, productive, live longer and are able to meet life’s challenges. Urban trails to help us stay fit have great value for every member of our sedentary and active population.
But getting people to exercise can be problematic for a number of reasons. Many doctors advise a 30-minute walk daily. Walking along city streets can not only be boring but can be dangerous if you have no sidewalks. Not many of us will drive 15 to 30 minutes to a place for a quick walk or ride. But we are more inclined to jump onto a local trail near our homes for a quick exhilarating walk, jog or run for health. The key is local accessible trails that you can get to quickly. We are developing those opportunities as part of the city’s Trails Master Plan. In time you should be able to jump on a trail, exercise and enjoy the many panoramic vistas and other sights that make this community unique.
At a recent council meeting, filled with concerned residents, council took the option to continue to study trails in the Jackson Oaks area. The area is surrounded by city-owned open space. The area is the only current access point to the eastern foothills. Contrary to the Times they were not eliminated. What likely will return is a new proposal. A peripheral trail or one that is mostly along the peripheral portion of the open space holds promise. Having a trail that climbs from the base of the foothill to the ridge line would be a wonderful addition to our interconnectivity trail system. It is hoped that the trail could provide a future link to Coe, Anderson or the newly opened Bear Ranch open space in same range. I do not see this just as a neighborhood trail but one the entire community can enjoy. I do not see bikes or horses as the area is limited but I do see children from Jackson Elementary School and others taking a short hike (no car pool required) to observe and learn from flora, fauna, and wildlife, while gaining an appreciation of our ever changing seasonal surroundings.
Neighbors should not fear trails. No study that I am aware of indicates that urban trails are crime magnets, and I have read many studies from reputable organizations, government agencies and universities. Every one of them indicates that there is no significant increase in crime or fire. Reason will have you believe that you will not find heavy smokers on trails. What you will find are cell phone-enabled families, health conscious young adults and inquisitive children. By their very presence they provide oversight and protection that increases safety and security. If such fears were true, we would not have Yosemite, Yellowstone, Coyote Creek, or any local regional park for that matter. Unfounded fear, and those that promote it did not prevent the construction of these visionary parks from being built and they should not deter us from doing the same within our own community.
One other note, on the council dais was a printout of fire calls to the Jackson Oaks area since 2004. In a review by city staff, none were started by hikers. They were caused by nature and most were manmade. Residents can help themselves by not using the open space to toss out refuse, rubbish, cans, bottles, landscape clippings, pool supplies, plastic chairs, build huts and/or store lumber, furniture and machinery, which I observed on a site visit. Such acts of disregard truly endanger homes and wildlife. Control this and we can significant reduce all of our risks.
Mark Grzan, Morgan Hill
